ASK IRA: Have Celtics distanced themselves to the degree that Heat changes are needed?
Q: We’re not getting past these Celtics in the playoffs as we currently stand. They’re sharper than last year despite the coaching change. Bam Adebayo 3.0, Tyler Herro 2.0, Peak Kyle Lowry (which we seem to have now) and a healthy Jimmy Butler can scratch out a couple of close wins in a seven-game series. But Boston is playing way too well with its runaway offense. Last season’s playoff series was us winning a few close ones and then them blowing us out in many of the other games. I can only imagine the gap will be more pronounced this year. Does Riley now make the hard (cap) play for Kevin Durant and Jae Crowder? It’s true that we are not really in rhythm with all the injuries and moving parts, so it’s hard to get a truly clear read on things. But even at full speed, it looks like we’ll still be a step behind this iteration of Boston’s team. The only thing I can see slowing the Celtics is if they fall prey to internal strife and Jaylen Brown gets too resentful at being seen as a Scottie Pippen to Jayson Tatum, But they don’t seem to be anywhere near that. While Bam and Tyler are still ascending, this feels like it’s going to be the Celtics’ conference for a while unless we bring in some A-list reinforcements. – Phillip, San Francisco.
A: Yes, sometimes it is difficult to acknowledge that another team simply is better. And that is not something I think a team, itself, would acknowledge. But let’s not quite yet put these Celtics in the same category of the Michael Jordan Bulls or LeBron James’ Eastern Conference teams that always – always – got to the NBA Finals. As the Heat showed Wednesday, they can hang with these Celtics. I don’t think you tear anything apart at the moment because of what the Celtics or Bucks are achieving. I think you tear it apart when you believe you no longer are a contender. The Heat are not there at the moment, nor should they be, considering their season-opening starting lineup has played only seven games together.
Q: Do you think it’s a big enough sample size, topped off by seeing it against the Celtics, to know it’s real, that Haywood Highsmith is a real rotation guy off the bench, giving the Heat much-needed extra defense, rebounding and muscle. – Morgan, New Orleans.
A: I do not, even though that is what Erik Spoelstra indicated after Wednesday’s game. When the Heat are healthy, there still appear too many names ahead of him in the hierarchy, unless the Heat go small and do not play Dewayne Dedmon. Still, Wednesday is encouraging for the moments when Haywood Highsmith might again be needed.
Q: Are we seeing the Heat’s future “Big Three” in Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Caleb Martin? The way they have been playing together lately has certainly been impressive. – Greg, Jacksonville.
A: I’m not sure that Caleb Martin, at 27, hasn’t aged out of “future” thought, but if the Heat could turn Nikola Jovic or perhaps an upcoming draft pick into an essential piece, then the future might well be covered to a considerable degree.
